Vics say farewell to the Hellenic

ALTHOUGH the season ended with the disappointment of resigning from the Hellenic League, out-going Malmesbury Victoria manager Gareth Davies was pleased with how his young squad adapted to senior football.

The cash-stricken outfit announced its decision to step down to the Wiltshire League last week in a bid to ensure that the club can survive.

And while Davies and his assistant Ady Roper have now left the Flying Monk Ground side, the club ended their Division One West campaign in 12th place.

“You could see how much they had all improved over the season,” Davies said. “It was like watching a different side.

“When the season started we were taking a few batterings and we were started to wonder how we were going to cope.

“But the players turned it around, we just gave the instructions, and I’m really proud of them.”

Despite their early season struggles on the pitch, Davies felt that Malmesbury’s 4-0 victory over Purton is one that brought him the biggest smile.

“That game showed that the players are more than capable of playing at that level,” he said. “It gave them belief.

“To be honest I’m over the moon with how we performed.”

The former Vics boss, who doesn’t expect any of the first team players to remain with the club, felt that Aaron Dainton came on leaps and bounds.

“At the start of the season, he was so nervous,” Davies said. “We could see that he had the tools, he just wasn’t sure how to get the best out of himself.

“But he improved so much, he was at every training session, his attitude was spot-on and never questioned what we wanted him to do.

“Callum Marshall and Charlie Basilone made a big difference when they came in after Christmas and Manie Roper, Ady’s son, was superb for us.”